Sister Parish: The Life of the Legendary American Interior Designer

by Apple Parish Bartlett, Susan Bartlett Crater, Albert Hadley (Foreword)

A New York Times Notable Book

Sister—as she was called by family and friends—was born Dorothy May Kinnicutt into a patrician New York family in 1910, and spent her privileged early life at the right schools, yacht clubs, and coming-out parties. Compelled to work during the lean years of the Depression, she combined her innate design ability with her upper-echelon social connections to create an extraordinarily successful interior decorating business. The Parish-Hadley firm’s list of clients reads like an American Who’s Who, including Astors, Paleys, Rockefellers, and Whitneys—and she helped Jacqueline Kennedy transform the White House from a fusty hodge-podge into a historically authentic symbol of American elegance.

Cozy, airy, colorful but understated, her style came to be known as “American country,” and its influence continues to this day. Compiled by her daughter and granddaughter from Sister’s own unpublished memoirs, as well as from hundreds of interviews with family members, friends, staff, world-renowned interior designers (Mark Hampton, Mario Buatta, Keith Irvine, Bunny Williams, and her longtime partner Albert Hadley, among many others), and clients including Annette de la Renta, Glenn Bernbaum, and Mrs. Thomas Watson, Sister Parish takes us into the houses—and lives—of some of the most fascinating and famous people of this inimitable woman’s time. Fully updated, the revised edition features a new foreword by Albert Hadley and an appreciation by Bunny Williams, who began her career at Parish-Hadley.

Includes photographs

Genres: Interior Design

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2012

Reviews

[Hayley Hosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because we all need chintz, color and class, I recommend this book about an influential and inspirational designer. Sister’s story weaves in and out of high society including Jackie O. And the Getty’s, but lingers longer on her human elements that only a daughter and grandchild can capture. Appreciate the tales about her cantankerous dog, Yummy.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biography of the designer who popularized the "American country" look, comprised of excerpts from her memoirs and reminiscences of her family, friends, and colleagues. The reminiscences provided colorful characterization of a lady who was (to put it simply) quite a character, but it was Sister's own words that brought back, in vivid detail, a vanished way of life.

[Laurabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating book on one of America's most iconic interior decorators.

Sister was one spicy cookie who had a falling out with Jackie Kennedy after allegedly kicking little Caroline. She went on to create a highly successful firm with Albert Hadley.

I should have highlighted the word "chintz" in this book.

[jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different sort of memoir, Sister's reflections and the memories of people who knew her. If you like interior decor it is very interesting.

[Liz Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written based on recollections of friends and family. Very entertaining and inspiring.

[Stacie Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. The book was well written and provided perspectives from Sister, her family and friends. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biographical book was chosen for discussion by a member of my book club for two reasons: 1) she personally is very stylish, and loves decorating; 2) our group has read a number of books about the late 19th/early 20th century, and this book offered another look into that era. While I loved the presentation of the book, by our club member, and the lively discussion which it elicited, I was not so enamored of reading the book. Having said that, I'd like to add that this book is worthy of a thorough skimming, a quick read through the contributors' memories of Sister Parish, and a more concentrated read of the words of Sister Parish herself. The material gives a good feel for how one woman, born into the aristocratic (wealthy) New York society of the early 1900s, overcame her family's fall from wealth when the financial markets crashed. Sister Parish was a creative, inventive, bold, adventurous spirit.

[Eliz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up at a Little Free Library in the neighborhood. It worked perfectly as a bedtime book, where I would read a few pages and fall asleep.

In this time of focus on privilege....a pretty amazing life.